Using the Bongo Occasionally

[helen&tony]

Hi
I'm limiting the stop- start local use of the Bongo, and only using it for trips to the City for the month's groceries, and a further trip the same week. This means the Bongo is sitting for three weeks at a time. What's the general opinion as to leaving it for that period without running the engine up, charging the battery, or using the aircon......would a wee outing as an interim be on the cards, or is 3 weeks non- use O.K.....I seem to remember that using the car every 2 weeks is recommended
Cheers
Helen

[francophile1947]

Personally, I'd take it for a short trip each week - especially for the aircon. However, lots get left for longer than 3 weeks without any problems, especially during winter.

[helen&tony]

Hi John
I'm coming round to the idea of a short trip....I noticed that the door lock on the sliding door was a bit lazy the other day, so I was wondering about periods between use.
Cheers
Helen

[mikeonb4c]

Mine is sitting unused for periods of a week at a time and - so far - doesn't seem to mind in the slightest. I like the idea of a battery conditioner, plug in thingie though, but that would mean putting it down the end of our narrow drive (near a mains supply) and then its hard getting things past it so may not bother

[helen&tony]

Hi Mike
A longer cable , maybe?
Cheers
Helen

[David Edwards]

Something funny happening on this here forum, lol, I did a message on this page this morning saying about a solar powered battery trickle charger I have ordered for £18.00 delivered from http://www.ryeness.co.uk, which would solve the problem of leaving the bongo for any length of time as I am in a similar position now that our youngest son is in uni and I find it more economical to use his nissan micra around town. Well it aint here so.. where the hell has it gone then..weird eh.

[bongolow]

I sometimes go a week or more without using mine (I work from home and usually walk to the shops) and so far I've not had any problems. I did have problems with a flat battery when I got back from New Zealand but I'd been away for two months so that wasn't a great surprise..

[trevd01]

Ours is a dedicated camper van and although in use most weeks in the summer, is stood for a few weeks at a time in the winter, unless it is snowing when it gets used if we have to go out to get out of our drive /road. My other car (a Prius) just goes nowhere in the snow, the 'traction control' (which you cant override) prevents the car from moving uphull in the snow!

I give it a trip to the shops about once a month, and sometimes use an automatic battery charger/conditioner to keep the batteries topped up, or plug in the hookup from time to time. I do have one of those useless solar battery chargers, which I bought years ago before I realised how pathetic they are, that I dug out from the back of the shed last winter and tried. I'm not sure it even kept a completely charged starter battery from discharging slightly due to the alarm.

The most I have ever left it was about six weeks a couple of years ago when I was recovering from my hip operation. That was Jan to Mid Feb, and I didn't charge it or anything. Started first time.

I just wish I could find a suitable size breathable cover.

[David Edwards]

Aw Trev could have done with your input earlier, lol, might have saved me £18.00.

[francophile1947]

Something funny happening on this here forum, lol, I did a message on this page this morning saying about a solar powered battery trickle charger I have ordered for £18.00 delivered from http://www.ryeness.co.uk, which would solve the problem of leaving the bongo for any length of time as I am in a similar position now that our youngest son is in uni and I find it more economical to use his nissan micra around town. Well it aint here so.. where the hell has it gone then..weird eh.

Link to Ryeness doesn't work

[M 80NGD]

Something funny happening on this here forum, lol, I did a message on this page this morning saying about a solar powered battery trickle charger I have ordered for £18.00 delivered from http://www.ryeness.co.uk, which would solve the problem of leaving the bongo for any length of time as I am in a similar position now that our youngest son is in uni and I find it more economical to use his nissan micra around town. Well it aint here so.. where the hell has it gone then..weird eh.

Link to Ryeness doesn't work

Hey up John,it's ryness,not ryeness. I've just googled it and there's a solar charger on there for £13.99

[David Edwards]

Thats the very one, I should have gone to specsavers lol, stuck an E where it shouldn't have been lol.

[Neil]

Our Bongo was not driven for over a year, not by choice but because it could not be registered until converted to a camper. I did start it periodically mainly to use the aircon, that was almost two years ago and havn’t noticed, as yet, any problems.

It often stands for a month or so without being driven, as we only use it as a camper but I will top up the batteries by leaving it overnight on hookup.

Always starts without a problem. Hope I'm not tempting fate!!

[helen&tony]

Hi David
Yes....me too....I missed an L in occasionally in the title....we're both fit for the scrap heap
Cheers
Helen

[MountainGoat]

I am in the same position with my bongo, it is a full camper with starter and leisure batteries connected by one of Willinton's Intelligent Split Charging wiring looms. My everyday transport is a Jeep Cherokee so the bongo does not get a great deal of usage throughout the winter months.

It is noticable that the leisure battery in particular tends to run down when not is use. Probablly made worse due to the fact that the wiring has been modified to let the blinds, radio and lights etc work off it when camping.

With my bongo being parked on my drive just outside my garage I have no problems leaving it on a hookup as this is always done overnight before leaving on a trip to get the fridge down to the correct temperature. My question is how often is it recommended that this is done to keep both batteries in good condition (assuming that both batteries are being recharged at the same time) and if using the trickle charger instead do both batteries have to be charged individually and when being done do they need disconnected from each other.